Fishing: There have been a few reports of some late-season coho in the region’s rivers, but freshwater anglers are mostly reeling in chum salmon. Out on Puget Sound, salmon fisheries are under way in several marine areas, where anglers have hooked some nice blackmouth.

"While it’s not as hot as the first few days of November, blackmouth fishing is still pretty good in Puget Sound," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "My advice to anglers is get out on the water while the fishing is good."

Four marine areas in the region are open for blackmouth - resident chinook. Anglers fishing marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) have a two-salmon daily limit, but must release wild chinook.

Thiesfeld reminds anglers fishing for blackmouth that crabbing also is a possibility.  Marine Area 10 and most of Marine Area 9 are open for crabbing seven days a week through Jan. 2, 2010. The portion of Marine Area 9 south of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point is closed for the season. Crab fishing also is open seven days a week through Jan. 2 in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound).

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. For more information about recreational crabbing in Puget Sound, see WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab .

In the rivers, reports indicate anglers are mostly hooking chum salmon , although a few coho continue to be caught in some streams. One hot spot for salmon fishing in the region is the Skykomish River, where anglers have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon, but must release chinook.

For trout anglers, Beaver Lake near Issaquah could be the best place to cast for rainbows over the next couple of weeks. About 2,000 hatchery rainbows - averaging about 3 pounds each - have been released in the lake. Beaver Lake, which is one of several westside lowland lakes open to fishing year-round, is best fished by small boat, although anglers also can be successful fishing from shore, said Chad Jackson, fishery biologist for WDFW. The daily bag limit is five fish, and bait anglers must keep the first five trout they catch.

Before heading out, anglers should check the regulations for all freshwater and saltwater fisheries in the Fishing in Washington pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ).

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

Fishing: As the chum salmon season nears its peak, anglers fishing the shores of Hood Canal and Puget Sound streams are finding success landing the big fish. On the coast, early winter-run steelhead are moving into area rivers while a razor-clam dig is planned for mid-November.

An evening razor-clam dig has been approved Nov. 14-17 at Twin Harbors, while Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks are scheduled for evening digs Nov. 14-16. Kalaloch Beach will be open Nov. 16 for one day of digging. No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.

Evening low tides during the dig are at 4:34 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 (-0.3 ft.), 5:21 p.m.  Sunday, Nov. 15 (-0.7 ft.), 6:05 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 (-0.9 ft.), 6:47 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 (-0.8 ft.).

The best time to start digging is an hour or two before low tide. Clam diggers should also take lights or lanterns and check weather and surf conditions before heading out.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2009 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov .

More digs are tentatively scheduled Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 31 - Jan. 3, subject to the results of marine toxin tests.

Meanwhile, as the season nears its peak, chum salmon can be found in virtually every small stream in the area. Popular fishing spots include the mouth of Kennedy Creek on Totten Inlet (where a recent creel check showed 66 anglers with 70 fish) and the Hoodsport Hatchery (where 81 shore anglers recently landed 67 chum). Anglers are reminded that the daily limit in the Hoodsport "hatchery zone" is four salmon, with a maximum of two chinook. Other areas now open to chum salmon fishing include the Dosewallips and Duckabush rivers in Jefferson County and Minter Creek in Pierce/Kitsap Counties.

Salmon fishing on coastal rivers has been hampered by recent rains, but catch rates should improve once the weather gets better, said David Low, WDFW fish biologist. "Virtually every river is out of shape right now, but the rain is also bringing in more fish," he said.

By the time conditions improve, anglers can start thinking about the winter steelhead season, Low said.  "December is the big month for hatchery steelhead on the north Olympic Peninsula - including rivers in the Quillayute system and Hoh River," Low said.  "We’re already seeing some early winter-run fish, so hopefully that’s a good sign."

Starting Dec. 1, wild steelhead retention rules go into effect on rivers in the Quillayute system. Low advises anglers to review retention rules in WDFW’s 2009-2010 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm before heading out.

Recreational crab fishing is under way in five marine areas of Puget Sound, including marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), 13 (south Puget Sound), and a portion of Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Crab fishing in those areas is open seven days a week through Jan. 2, 2010. The portion of Marine Area 9 south of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point is closed for the season.

The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across.

Recreational crabbers are required to send in a winter catch card or report their catch online by Jan. 15. People failing to submit their winter reports will receive a $10 fine when they apply for a 2010 Puget Sound crab endorsement. For more information about recreational crabbing in Puget Sound, see WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab .

In the South Sound, anglers fishing in marine areas 11 and 13 (Vashon Island to South Puget Sound) may retain wild chinook as part of their two-fish daily limit, but only one chinook - hatchery or wild - may be retained.

Anglers are advised to check the 2009-2010 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm before heading out.